The chassis is where the Apex really earns its keep in terms of performance. The suspension is tight, the ride is lower, the steering firmer, and you get some reduced body roll and quick turn-in as a result. Combine that with the P225/R18 tires, and you have a comprehensive chassis reconfiguration.
But there’s a problem, one that often rears its head when mass-market compacts get a treatment like this, and it revolves around what happens when the goings get slower and bumpier ‘round town. The firm ride returned from the suspension tuning becomes a harsh ride in the Apex’s case. Sunken manhole covers, railroad crossings – even raised road paint – are all felt too readily here.
They could have found a way to soften things, just a little, perhaps by way of some softer bushings or different rebound settings. It’s just a little too committed to the performance side in some cases and that’s even though the Apex isn’t fully in the performance category, in which concessions like an overly-firm ride are acceptable so that a car can deliver a more committed attitude through turns.
It is fun in those moments where you decide to wring it out a little bit, though, and there’s something to be said for the way Toyota has taken one of their bread-and-butter models and given it just that much more flare. It’s not really a Honda Civic Si fighter per se – it’s more of a Nissan Sentra SR fighter – but there are some genuine performance add-ons here that make for an affordable entry into the sport compact-lite market.
We like
Cool style upgrades
Easy-to-use manual gearbox
Good interior space
We like less
Ride is very firm at lower speeds
No power increase compared to regular model
Aged infotainment
The competition
Honda Civic sedan
Kia Forte GT-Line
Mazda3 sedan
Nissan Sentra SR
